Taraji P. Henson has won our hearts time and time again — whether it’s through her exceptional performances in any role she takes on or sharing her strong and inspiring story of heading to Los Angeles as a 26-year-old single mother to start her acting career — Henson is proving exactly how much of a boss she actually is.
Earlier this week, Henson revealed her latest project will tackle the serious issue around mental health in the black community. The actress shared that she will be launching a new foundation that is aimed to dismantle the stigma that surrounds mental health issues, like the ones her late father was dealing with before his passing in 2006.
The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation is named after her late father, a veteran who battled liver cancer along with mental health issues, leading to his passing at age 58. The organization will offer and provide scholarships to black students majoring in mental health. The Henson Foundation will also have mental health services readily available for black and brown youth in urban schools.
"I named the organization after my father because of his complete and unconditional love for me; his unabashed, unashamed ability to tell the truth, even if it hurt; and his strength to push through his own battles with mental health issues," she said, according to Vibe. "My dad fought in the Vietnam War for our country, returned broken, and received little to no physical and emotional support. I stand now in his absence, committed to offering support to African Americans who face trauma daily, simply because they are black."
We’re definitely looking forward to The Henson Foundation launching in Los Angeles on September 22nd in Taraji’s Boutique of Hope.
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